National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is one of the most breathtaking collections of artifacts in the world today

It's certainly the place to see the best collection of Greek treasures that date all the way back to prehistoric times.

The museum was first constructed in the late 1800s and contains prehistoric artifacts, priceless sculpture, Minor art, pottery, bronze items, and even Egyptian artwork and artifacts. You'll see things like a Neolithic sculpture dating back to 4500 BC, a statue of Nereid from 380 BC, a bronze statue of Octavian Augustus from the first century BC, and so much more.

Highlights you can't miss

• Mask of Agamemnon — the gold funerary mask from Mycenae.
• Antikythera Mechanism — the world's first known analogue computer, recovered from a 2,000-year-old shipwreck.
• Bronze Jockey of Artemision — full-size dynamic bronze sculpture of a small jockey on a galloping horse.
• Poseidon (or Zeus) of Artemision — a magnificent bronze statue, around 460 BC.
• Cycladic figurines — the famous abstract marble statuettes that inspired modern art.
• Akrotiri frescoes — wall paintings preserved by the eruption of Santorini, around 1600 BC.

Plan your visit

There's also a gift shop where you can purchase guidebooks, postcards, books, artwork, maps and more. Allow at least 3 hours — the collection is vast. The museum is in the Exarchia neighbourhood and is easily reached from Omonia or Victoria metro stations.